KR20220111351A - Toe angle adjusting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting a toe value by manipulating a tie rod, which performs a steering function of a wheel when adjusting a wheel alignment to improve straightness and driving performance of a vehicle. According to the present invention, by implementing a novel toe adjustment method which adjusts a tie rod without a jam nut release action while the jam nut is loosened when operating the tie rod to adjust the wheel alignment using a dual-type gear apparatus which combines a jam nut socket which can be bound to a jam nut and a tie rod clamp capable of clamping on a tie rod, workability can be improved as well as work accuracy, a labor cost can be significantly reduced, and toe value adjustment quality can be ensured. The gear apparatus for toe adjustment of the present invention comprises: a housing (11); a gear assembly (12); a jam nut socket (14); a pair of tie rod clamps (15); and a tie rod clamp operating unit (19).

Description

Gear device for toe adjustment {TOE ANGLE ADJUSTING APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a gear device for adjusting tow, and more particularly, to a device for adjusting a toe value by manipulating a tie rod that performs a steering function of a wheel when wheel alignment is adjusted for improving straightness and driving performance of a vehicle. .

In general, wheel alignment is used for suspension or steering in a vehicle in order to make the vehicle run more smoothly, to have better road contact, to improve steering, and to have improved stability on a straight or curved road. It is to understand the angular relationship of each part of the system, and to balance all the forces generated by friction, gravity, centrifugal force and motion while the vehicle is moving.

These wheel alignments are composed of various angles such as camber, caster, tow, rotation angle, and thrust. and vibration and wear of suspension parts, wheel alignment for the entire vehicle wheel is essential.

In a normal vehicle inspection line, the wheel alignment process is performed in which the operator uses a spanner and a torque wrench to properly align the tires by adjusting the toe, camber, and caster.

Looking at the toe adjustment method in the wheel alignment process, the toe of the wheel is adjusted by rotating the tie rod after loosening the jam nut of the tie rod assembly by rotating it.

Then, when the tow adjustment is completed, the jam nut is rotated and tightened to maintain the tow adjusted state.

However, because the tie rod shape of some vehicle manufacturers is different, the previously developed adjustment device cannot enter the tie rod adjustment position, and it is difficult to work because the tool has to be put in and out several times alternately. In addition to the disadvantage of poor overall workability such as time consuming, there is a difficulty in securing the quality of the tow value.

Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0043280 Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-2010-0045787 Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0059703 Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1909445

Therefore, the present invention has been devised in view of this point, and when manipulating a tie rod for adjusting wheel alignment, a dual type combining a jam nut socket capable of binding the jam nut side and a tie rod clamp capable of clamping the tie rod side By implementing a new toe adjustment method that adjusts the tie rod without the jam nut disengagement action in the state of loosening the jam nut using the gear device of An object of the present invention is to provide a gear device for toe adjustment that can secure the tow value adjustment quality.

To achieve the above object, the gear device for adjusting the tow provided in the present invention has the following characteristics.

The gear device for adjusting the tow includes a housing having an open upper end and a tool connecting portion on the rear side of the lower end, and a plurality of gear combinations installed inside the housing and interlocking with each other, and a gear assembly driven by power provided from the tool and a jam nut socket positioned at the upper end of the housing and formed on the front side of the top gear of the gear assembly to engage the jam nut, and a tie rod positioned at the upper end of the housing and formed on the rear side of the top gear of the gear assembly A pair of tie rod clamps capable of binding to, a cylinder installed on the front side of the lower end of the housing as a means for operating the tie rod clamp, a transmission member for transmitting the power of the cylinder, and a pair of tie rod clamps inside the upper end It consists of a structure including a tie rod clamp operation part consisting of a pair of clamps that open or close the tie rod clamp of the upper end while seesaw movement by the vertical operation of the transmission member along with the housing.

Therefore, the gear device for adjusting the tow clamps the tie rod with a tie rod clamp without leaving the jam nut in a state in which the jam nut is loosened through rotation of the top gear while hanging the jam nut socket on the jam nut. It is characterized by being able to adjust the toe by turning the tie rod through rotation.

Here, the jam nut socket formed on the front side of the top gear of the gear assembly and the tie rod clamp formed on the rear side of the gear assembly are positioned to form a horizontal coaxial structure, so that the tow adjustment gear device moves slightly along the coaxial line while also coaxially You can loosen or tighten the jam nut and tie rod placed on the

In addition, the pair of tie rod clamps are supported in a hinge structure by the clamp pin at the bottom and receive a force to always open by the restoring force of the torsion spring, and are formed inside the upper end of the clamp using the convex curved surface of the outer surface It can be guided from the inside of the clamp when it is rotated while being closely adhered to the concave curved part.

A pair of guide blocks for guiding an entry position when entering the tie rod side may be installed at the upper end of the housing of the gear device for toe adjustment.

In a preferred embodiment, the transmission member of the tie rod clamp operating unit includes a rod block coupled to the rod of the cylinder, a pair of rod brackets coupled to the rod block, a jaw bracket coupled between the pair of rod brackets, and the jaw It consists of jaws that are supported on the bracket and are in contact between the lower ends of the pair of clamps, so that the lower ends of the pair of clamps can be spread apart or retracted while moving up and down when the cylinder is operated.

In a preferred embodiment, the gear assembly includes an input gear connected to the tool side, a first intermediate gear meshing with the input gear, a second intermediate gear meshing with the first intermediate gear, and a pair of meshing with the second intermediate gear. of the third intermediate gear, one side of which is open and at the same time having a jam nut socket and a tie rod clamp, may include a top gear meshing with the third intermediate gear.

The gear device for adjusting the tow provided by the present invention has the following effects.

By applying a new type of gear device that combines a jam nut socket that can be bound to the jam nut side and a tie rod clamp that can clamp the tie rod side when the tie rod is operated to adjust the wheel alignment of the vehicle, the tow It can reduce the working time related to the adjustment work as well as improve the workability by facilitating the work, and secure the excellent toe value adjustment quality such as increasing the accuracy of the work. It has the effect of increasing the economic feasibility and efficiency of device operation, such as being widely applicable to various tie rod shapes of vehicles.

1 to 5 are perspective views showing a gear device for adjusting tow according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a front view showing the gear assembly of the gear device for adjusting the toe according to an embodiment of the present invention;
7 to 9 are perspective views illustrating a jam nut socket and a tie rod clamp of a gear device for adjusting tow according to an embodiment of the present invention;
10 and 11 are perspective views of a state in which the gear device for adjusting the toe according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the tool.
12 to 18 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing the use state of the gear device for adjusting the tow according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 5 are perspective views showing a gear device for adjusting tow according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 to 5, the gear device for adjusting the toe combines a jam nut socket capable of binding on the jam nut side and a tie rod clamp capable of clamping the tie rod side when adjusting the tie rod for adjustment of wheel alignment. By applying a dual type gear device, after hooking the jam nut socket to the jam nut, loosen the jam nut through the rotation operation of the gear assembly, and in this state, after clamping the tie rod with the tie rod clamp without leaving the jam nut It has a structure in which the toe can be adjusted while rotating the tie rod through the rotational operation of the gear assembly.

To this end, the gear device for tow adjustment includes a housing 11 as a means for accommodating the gear assembly 12 and the like.

The housing 11 is formed by combining two rectangular cases with an open upper end, and can enter the jam nut side and the tie rod side through the open upper end.

Each gear of the gear assembly 12 can be installed inside the housing 11 made of the combination of two rectangular cases, and the top gear 13 having a jam nut socket 14 at the open upper end; Tie rod clamps 15 may be installed respectively.

A tool connection part 10 is formed on the rear side of the lower end of the housing 11, and the tool connection part 10 at this time has an adjusting tool (Adjusting tool) that provides power to the gear assembly 12 side; FIGS. 10 and 11 . 28) can be connected.

Accordingly, the input gear 24 of the gear assembly 12 is rotated by the power provided from the adjusting tool 28, and power transmission between the gears in the upward direction can be continued.

In addition, a pair of guide blocks 23 are installed on both sides of the upper end of the housing 11 with an open portion interposed therebetween, and when the gear device for adjusting the toe enters the tie rod side, the guide blocks 23 are spread outward. It plays a role of guiding the entry point using the inner inclined surface of the shape.

In addition, the gear device for adjusting the toe includes a gear assembly 12 as a means for supplying power for loosening and locking the jam nut and adjusting the tie rod.

This gear assembly 12 is installed inside the housing 11 and is composed of a plurality of gear combinations interlocked with each other and is driven by the power provided from the tool side, and the driving force at this time loosens or locks the jam nut and returns the tie rod. be able to

For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , the gear assembly 12 includes an input gear 24 connected to the adjusting tool 28 and rotated, and a first rotating input gear 24 engaged with the input gear 24 . An intermediate gear 25, a second intermediate gear 26 that is rotated in mesh with the first intermediate gear 25, and a pair of left and right third intermediate gears 27 that are rotated in mesh with the second intermediate gear 26 ) and a top gear 13 that is rotated in mesh with the third intermediate gear 27 .

In particular, the top gear 13 is made of a gear having one side open, and at the same time a jam nut socket 14 is formed on one side of the top gear 13 and a tie rod clamp ( 15) is installed.

Accordingly, when power is provided from the adjusting tool 28, the power at this time is the input gear 24 → the first intermediate gear 25 → the second intermediate gear 26 → the third intermediate gear 27 → It is transmitted in the order of the top gear 13 , and eventually the jam nut socket 14 as well as the tie rod clamp 15 can be rotated together by the rotation of the top gear 13 .

In addition, the gear device for adjusting the tow includes a jam nut socket 14 as a means for loosening or locking the jam nut again.

7 to 9 , the jam nut socket 14 is formed on the front side of the top gear 13 in the gear assembly 12 while being positioned at the upper end of the housing 11 .

The jam nut socket 14 has a hexagonal shape integral to the inner circumferential surface of the front side of the top gear 13 with one open side. there will be

Accordingly, when the jam nut socket 14 moves along the tie rod axial direction after entering at a right angle to the tie rod side, the jam nut socket 14 can be engaged while being fitted to the jam nut, and this When the top gear 13 rotates in this state, the jam nut bitten in the jam nut socket 14 may be loosened or locked.

In addition, the gear device for adjusting the toe includes a pair of tie rod clamps 15 as means for adjusting the tie rods by turning them.

7 to 9 , the tie rod clamp 15 is installed at the rear side of the top gear 13 in the gear assembly 12 while being positioned at the upper end of the housing 11 .

That is, the pair of tie rod clamps 15 are disposed facing each other one by one on the rear side of the top gear 13 with the axis line of the top gear 13 interposed therebetween, and at the same time are attached to the clamp pin 20a of the lower end. It is installed in a structure supported by

The pair of tie rod clamps 15 installed in this way can be narrowed toward each other while rotating around the clamp pin 20a or can be widened away from each other.

The outer surface of the tie rod clamp 15 is a convex curved portion 22a, for example, a convex curved portion 22a having the same curvature as the concave curved portion 22b in the clamp 18 of the transmission member 17. As a result, the tie rod clamp 15 is in close contact with the concave curved portion 22b formed inside the upper end of the clamp 18 using the convex curved portion 22a when rotating, that is, narrowed or It is possible to receive a slide guide from the inside of the clamp 18 when it opens.

In addition, a torsion spring 21 is installed at the fastening portion of the clamp pin 20a of the tie rod clamp 15 . At this time, one end of the torsion spring 21 is on the top gear 13 side, and the other end is on the top gear 13 side. is supported on the tie rod clamp 15 side, and accordingly, in a state where external force (force pressed by the clamp) does not act, both tie rod clamps 15 are always You will be able to receive force in the direction of the opening.

At this time, the torsion spring 21 is inserted into the spring groove 29 formed in the top gear 13 and the tie rod clamp 15 while being fitted on the outer circumferential surface of the clamp pin 20a so as to be inserted into the tie rod clamp 15 . It is desirable not to cause interference with the surroundings when rotating.

In addition, the tie rod clamp 15 installed on the rear side of the top gear 13 of the gear assembly 12 includes a jam nut socket 14 formed on the front side of the top gear 13 of the gear assembly 12 and It is positioned to form a horizontal coaxial structure, and accordingly, the tie rod clamp 15 can accurately clamp the tie rod on its centerline even in a state where the jam nut is bound to the jam nut socket 14 .

In addition, the gear device for adjusting the toe includes a tie rod clamp operation unit 19 as a means for operating the tie rod clamp 15 .

The tie rod clamp operation part 19 is provided on the front side of the lower end of the housing 11 to provide power to the cylinder 16 and the clamp pin 20b which is located on the rear side of the housing 11 and is fastened in the middle of its length. ), a pair of left and right clamps 18 installed on the housing in a seesaw motion structure, and a transmission member 17 interposed between the cylinder 16 side and the clamp 18 side to transmit power is composed of

Here, the pair of clamps 18 receive each tie rod clamp 15 inward by using the concave curved portion 22b formed inside each upper end, and accordingly, the pair of left and right clamps ( When the upper end of 18) is retracted or widened, it is possible to clamp or unclamp the tie rod while the tie rod clamps 15 on the left and right are also narrowed or widened in connection with the operation of the clamp 18 .

That is, the clamp 18 accommodates the pair of tie rod clamps 15 inward, respectively, and spreads or retracts the tie rod clamp 15 of the upper end while seeing the movement by the up and down operation of the transmission member 17 . be able to give

At this time, the cylinder 16 is preferably a double-rod type cylinder, and in the case of the clamp 18, the original by the force of the torsion spring 21 that restores (unclamps) the tie rod clamp 15. It can be returned to the posture (unclamping) of the clamp 18, but by pulling the lower end with a tension spring 34, that is, a tension coil spring, between the opposite lower ends between the pair of clamps 18. It is desirable to ensure that the restoration of

In particular, the transmission member 17 of the tie rod operation unit 19 serves to transmit the power of the cylinder 16 to the clamp 18 side and the tie rod clamp 15 side.

To this end, the transmission member 17 includes a rod block 17a coupled to the rod of the cylinder 16, for example, two rod blocks 17a coupled to the upper and lower rods of both rod-type cylinders, and the upper A jaw bracket 17c installed on the rear side of the housing 11 while having a jaw seating groove 30 in the form of a circular groove in the middle of the left and right lengths, and supported in the jaw seating groove 30 of the jaw bracket 17c A cylindrical jaw 17d in contact with the inner side of the lower end of both clamps 18 at the same time as it is installed in a structure of It is composed of a pair of rod brackets 17b in the shape of a substantially “U” that are coupled to both ends of the load block 17a and both ends of the jaw bracket 17c, respectively.

In addition, the front surface of the pair of rod brackets 17b is closed by a cover 31 installed in the housing 11 .

That is, the cover 31 is installed on the rear surface of the housing 11 while covering the pair of rod brackets 17b.

In addition, a proximity sensor 32 is installed above the front of the housing 11 , and the proximity sensor 32 at this time is located close to the sensor dog 33 protruding from the front of the top gear 13 . to detect the rotation of the top gear 13, that is, the rotation of the jam nut socket 14, and serve to provide it to the controller (not shown).

Accordingly, during the lifting operation of the cylinder 16, the load block 17a, the rod bracket 17b, the jaw bracket 17c, and the jaw 17d of the transmission member 17 are raised, and thus the jaw 17d is When it rises, the lower end of the clamp 18 is widened and the upper end is narrowed, and eventually the tie rod clamp 15 accommodated in the upper end of the clamp 18 shrinks and bites the tie rod.

Conversely, when the cylinder 16 is lowered, the load block 17a, the rod bracket 17b, the jaw bracket 17c and the jaw 17d of the transmission member 17 are lowered, and thus the jaw 17d is When descending, the lower end of the clamp 18 is narrowed and the upper end is opened at the same time, and eventually the tie rod clamp 15 accommodated in the upper end of the clamp 18 is opened and the tie rod is released.

10 and 11 are perspective views showing a state in which the gear device for adjusting the tow according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the tool.

10 and 11, the gear device 100 for adjusting the tow is installed in the gear device holder 110 having a robot connection part 110 for coupling with a robot (not shown), and the gear for adjusting the tow An adjusting tool 28 is coupled to the tool connection 10 in the housing 11 of the device 100 .

Accordingly, the gear device 100 for adjusting the tow can enter the jab nut fastening portion of the tie rod while exhibiting free movement by the robot, and in this state, the power provided from the adjusting tool 28 is used. This can be adjusted by loosening or tightening the jam nut and turning the tie rod.

12 to 18 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing a use state of the gear device for adjusting the tow according to an embodiment of the present invention.

12 to 18, here, using the jam nut socket 14, loosening or tightening the jam nut 130, and adjusting the tie rod 140 by using the tie rod clamp 15 show the process

First, the jam nut socket 14 and the tie rod clamp 15 enter the jam nut 130 side and the tie rod 140 side.

At this time, the jam nut socket 14 enters one side out of the jam nut 130 .

Next, by pushing the jam nut socket 14 and the tie rod clamp 15 to one side (left direction in the drawing), the jam nut socket 14 is fastened to the jam nut 130 .

Next, the jam nut 130 is loosened by rotating the top gear 13 by operating the gear assembly 12 in the forward direction.

When the jam nut 130 locking the tie rod 140 is released in this way, the tie rod 140 is in a free state (that is, if the tie rod is turned in a state in which the jam nut is loosened, the fastening state of the tie rod is changed. locked or unlocked).

And, when the jam nut 130 is loosened, the jam nut socket 14 and the tie rod clamp 15 are slightly moved to the opposite side (moves to the right of the drawing) as much as the loosened amount at this time.

Next, when the cylinder 16 is operated, the tie rod clamp 15 retracts and bites the tie rod 140 tightly.

At this time, the jam nut socket 14 is in a state bitten by the jam nut 130 .

Next, by operating the gear assembly 12 in the forward or reverse direction to loosen or tighten the tie rod fastening portion in a manner that rotates the tie rod 140 , the tie rod 140 increases or decreases in length, and eventually the tie rod It is possible to adjust the toe value through the adjustment of (140).

At this time, the jam nut 14 is also rotated, but since the jam nut 14 is in a loosened state, it does not affect the adjustment of the tie rod 140 .

Next, after the tie rod 140 is adjusted, the tie rod clamp 15 biting the tie rod 140 is released, and the gear assembly 12 is continuously operated in the reverse direction to lock the jam nut 130 . The adjusted state of the tie rod 140 is fixed, and when the jam nut socket 14 and the tie rod clamp 15 are pulled out from the jam nut 130 side and the tie rod 140 side, the tie rod adjustment operation is performed. is done

As such, in the present invention, the jam nut socket capable of binding the jam nut that can be used when loosening or tightening the screw fastening degree of the tie rod for adjusting the wheel alignment and the tie rod clamp capable of clamping the tie rod side are combined. By providing a gear device for adjusting the tow, it is possible to improve workability, such as adjusting the tie rod without the jam nut disengagement action in a state in which the jam nut is loosened. It can be precisely fine-tuned.

10: tool connection part 11: housing
12: gear assembly 13: top gear
14: jam nut socket 15: tie rod clamp
16: cylinder 17: transmission member
17a: road block 17b: rod bracket
17c: Jaw Bracket 17d: Jaw
18: clamp 19: tie rod clamp operating part
20a, 20b: clamp pin 21: torsion spring
22a, 22b: curved part 23: guide block
24: input gear 25: first intermediate gear
26: second intermediate gear 27: third intermediate gear
28: adjusting tool 29: spring groove
30: jaw seating groove 31: cover
32: proximity sensor 33: sensor dog
34: tension spring

Claims (6)

a housing 11 having an open upper end and a tool connecting portion 10 on the rear side of the lower end;
a gear assembly 12 that is installed in the housing 11 and is formed of a plurality of gear combinations that are interlocked with each other and driven by power provided from the tool side;
a jam nut socket 14 positioned at the upper end of the housing 11 and formed on the front side of the top gear 13 of the gear assembly 12 to engage the jam nut;
a pair of tie rod clamps 15 positioned at the upper end of the housing 11 and formed on the rear side of the top gear 13 of the gear assembly 12 and capable of binding to the tie rod;
A cylinder 16 installed on the front side of the lower end of the housing 11 as a means for operating the tie rod clamp 15 , a transmission member 17 for transmitting power of the cylinder 16 , and the pair of tie rod clamps A tie rod composed of a pair of clamps 18 that spreads or closes the tie rod clamp 15 of the upper end while accommodating the 15 inside the upper end and seesaw movement by the up and down operation of the transmission member 17 clamp operation unit 19;
In a state where the jam nut socket 14 is hung on the jam nut and the jam nut is loosened through rotation of the top gear 13, the tie rod is clamped with the tie rod clamp 15 without leaving the jam nut. Tow adjustment gear device, characterized in that it is possible to adjust the toe while rotating the tie rod through the rotation of the top gear (13) together with the top gear (13).
The method according to claim 1,
Toe adjustment gear, characterized in that the jam nut socket 14 formed on the front side of the top gear 13 of the gear assembly 12 and the tie rod clamp 15 formed on the rear side are positioned in a horizontal coaxial structure. Device.
The method according to claim 1,
The pair of tie rod clamps 15 are supported in a hinge structure by the clamp pin 20a at the bottom and receive a force to always open by the restoring force of the torsion spring 21, and the convex curved portion of the outer surface ( 22a) to fit the concave curved surface portion 22b formed inside the upper end of the clamp 18 using 22a) and to be guided from the inside of the clamp 18 during rotation. .
The method according to claim 1,
A pair of guide blocks (23) for guiding an entry position when entering the tie rod side are installed at the upper end of the housing (11).
The method according to claim 1,
The transmission member 17 of the tie rod clamp operation unit 15 includes a rod block 17a coupled to the rod of the cylinder 16, a pair of rod brackets 17b coupled to the rod block 17a, and the It is composed of a jaw bracket 17c coupled between a pair of rod brackets 17b, and a jaw 17d that is supported on the jaw bracket 17c and is in contact between the lower ends of the pair of clamps 18, the cylinder A gear device for adjusting tow, characterized in that it can spread or retract the lower ends of the pair of clamps (18) while moving up and down during operation.
The method according to claim 1,
The gear assembly 12 includes an input gear 24 connected to the tool side, a first intermediate gear 25 meshing with the input gear 24, and a second intermediate gear meshing with the first intermediate gear 25 ( 26), a pair of third intermediate gears 27 meshing with the second intermediate gear 26, one side of which is open, and a third intermediate gear while having a jam nut socket 14 and a tie rod clamp 15 Gear device for toe adjustment, characterized in that it consists of a top gear (13) meshing with the gear (27).

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